On 23 May 2026, the EMPATHER project reached an important milestone with the organisation of a face-to-face meeting of the Privacy Review Board (PRB) at the 4th Experimental School of Syros. The meeting brought together the EDVOCACY team, representatives of the Regional Directorate of Primary Education of Cyclades, and all members of the PRB, including parents, students, educators, and experts in privacy, ethics, educational research, and responsible digitalisation.
The meeting focused on the presentation, discussion, and approval of the first prototype of the EMPATHER ORRI Toolkit, a practical framework currently being developed to support responsible and ethical educational research practices.
Throughout the session, participants explored the overall architecture and operational philosophy of the toolkit, which aims to integrate principles of Privacy-by-Design, Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI), and responsible digitalisation into everyday research workflows. Rather than functioning as a theoretical guideline or compliance document, the toolkit is being designed as a practical operational system that can help organisations identify ethical and privacy risks early, improve research governance, and support safer digital research environments.
Particular attention was given to issues related to educational research involving minors, the management of sensitive educational data, informed consent and assent procedures, and the ethical implications of digital tools and platforms used in research activities. Participants also discussed the importance of usability and accessibility, ensuring that the toolkit can be realistically applied by schools, educators, researchers, and organisations working in educational contexts.
The interactive nature of the meeting reflected the co-creation philosophy of the EMPATHER project. Members of the Privacy Review Board actively contributed feedback and recommendations on the toolkit’s workflows, consent templates, privacy procedures, and digital tool assessment mechanisms. The discussion highlighted the importance of involving diverse stakeholders in the development of governance frameworks that directly affect educational communities.
The meeting concluded with the approval of the prototype version of the EMPATHER ORRI Toolkit and a shared commitment to continue refining and strengthening the framework through upcoming pilot implementations, simulations, and collaborative workshops.
Implemented by EDVOCACY in collaboration with the Regional Directorate of Primary Education of Cyclades within the framework of the REINFORCING Open Call, the EMPATHER project seeks to contribute to the development of sustainable, transparent, and responsible approaches to digital educational research and innovation.